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Cost of Living Index in Canada
Learn more Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between the United Arab Emirates and Chiang Mai
For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $906 a month against $2,227 in the United Arab Emirates, rent and utilities included – about $15,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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😐 Solo nomad: The United Arab Emirates is 71% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 145.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: The United Arab Emirates is 79.1% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 141.6% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
United Arab Emirates
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.40 AED 34.51
$2.13 ฿71.4
341.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.5 AED 222
$19.40 ฿649
211.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.69 AED 35.60
$5.47 ฿183
77.15%
Cappuccino
$5.34 AED 19.63
$1.68 ฿56.4
217.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 AED 3.86
$0.66 ฿22.10
59.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 AED 1.70
$0.34 ฿11.52
35.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.80 AED 43.33
$2.42 ฿81.0
387.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.35 AED 45.35
$3.73 ฿125
231.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United Arab Emirates
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 AED 6.33
$2.06 ฿68.9
-16.50%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 AED 5.38
$1.46 ฿48.78
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.14 AED 7.85
$1.35 ฿45.09
58.52%
Eggs
$3.22 AED 11.82
$2.27 ฿76.0
41.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.60 AED 38.92
$16.31 ฿546
-35.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.82 AED 32.38
$2.70 ฿90.3
226.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.55 AED 42.44
$9.20 ฿308
25.54%
Apples (1kg)
$2.46 AED 9.04
$2.39 ฿80.1
2.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 AED 6.51
$1.04 ฿34.66
70.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.68 AED 6.18
$1.60 ฿53.7
5.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 AED 4.99
$1.44 ฿48.37
-5.56%
Potato (1kg)
$1.07 AED 3.92
$1.30 ฿43.59
-17.69%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 AED 3.88
$1.11 ฿37.29
-4.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.49 AED 5.46
$0.70 ฿23.55
112.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 AED 2.06
$0.51 ฿16.99
9.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.09 AED 22.38
$4.13 ฿138
47.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.52 AED 49.66
$17.78 ฿595
-23.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.43 AED 8.94
$1.63 ฿54.7
49.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 AED 10.14
$2.87 ฿96.0
-3.83%
🚌 Getting Around
United Arab Emirates
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.62 AED 5.94
$0.86 ฿28.76
88.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$47.10 AED 173
$53.2 ฿1,780
-11.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 AED 11.93
$1.22 ฿40.81
166.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.60 AED 2.22
$0.56 ฿18.81
7.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.32 AED 30.57
$2.31 ฿77.5
260.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 AED 3.48
$1.50 ฿50.2
-36.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.9K AED 165.0K
$20.9K ฿698.3K
115.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K AED 82.2K
$26.7K ฿895.0K
-16.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Arab Emirates
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$198 AED 726
$61.3 ฿2,051
222.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.4 AED 196
$12.50 ฿419
327.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$91.3 AED 335
$20.36 ฿682
348.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United Arab Emirates
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.8 AED 271
$37.94 ฿1,270
94.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$33.45 AED 123
$3.77 ฿126
787.27%
Cinema Ticket
$13.77 AED 50.6
$6.60 ฿221
108.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United Arab Emirates
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$570 AED 2,094
$774 ฿25.9K
-26.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K AED 44.8K
$14.4K ฿483.2K
-15.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United Arab Emirates
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.2 AED 225
$54.8 ฿1,835
11.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 AED 213
$25.26 ฿846
129.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.5 AED 365
$90.6 ฿3,032
9.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100 AED 368
$73.3 ฿2,453
36.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United Arab Emirates
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,553 AED 5,704
$459 ฿15.4K
238.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,092 AED 4,011
$294 ฿9,835
271.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,731 AED 10.0K
$919 ฿30.8K
197.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,022 AED 7,427
$552 ฿18.5K
266.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,628 AED 20.7K
$1,917 ฿64.2K
193.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,849 AED 10.5K
$1,445 ฿48.4K
97.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United Arab Emirates
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,827 AED 10.4K
$592 ฿19.8K
377.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.63
5.57
-16.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for the United Arab Emirates: October 3, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
United Arab Emirates $1.1K 48.3%
Chiang Mai $294 31.8% 73.1% $798
Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Arab Emirates $342 15.2%
Chiang Mai $94 10.2% 72.5% $248
Groceries & Markets
United Arab Emirates $263 11.6%
Chiang Mai $236 25.6% 10.3% $27
Eating Out
United Arab Emirates $258 11.4%
Chiang Mai $77 8.4% 70.1% $181
Clothing & Footwear
United Arab Emirates $143 6.4%
Chiang Mai $110 11.9% 23.5% $34
Sport & Entertainment
United Arab Emirates $101 4.5%
Chiang Mai $51 5.5% 49.6% $50
Getting Around
United Arab Emirates $60 2.7%
Chiang Mai $61 6.6% 1.3% $0.8
Accommodation & Living
United Arab Emirates $2K 45%
Chiang Mai $552 29% 72.7% $1.5K
Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Arab Emirates $396 8.8%
Chiang Mai $107 5.6% 73.1% $289
Groceries & Markets
United Arab Emirates $599 13.3%
Chiang Mai $529 27.8% 11.6% $70
Eating Out
United Arab Emirates $801 17.8%
Chiang Mai $243 12.8% 69.6% $558
Clothing & Footwear
United Arab Emirates $319 7.1%
Chiang Mai $244 12.8% 23.5% $75
Sport & Entertainment
United Arab Emirates $236 5.3%
Chiang Mai $106 5.6% 55.1% $130
Getting Around
United Arab Emirates $123 2.7%
Chiang Mai $123 6.5% 0% $0
Good to know
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
Weather
Population
9,890,400
127,240
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- United Arab Emirates Chiang Mai 4,630 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
- United Arab Emirates
- Chiang Mai
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
United Arab Emirates vs other spots: cost of living compared
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